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illettré

illiterate

adjective ee-leh-TREH Rare
People & Society Education

Usage Note

Illettré describes someone who cannot read or write despite having had the opportunity to learn, distinguishing it from analphabète (who never had access to schooling). As a noun, un illettré / une illettrée refers to the person. The feminine adjective is illettrée; illettrisme is the noun for the social problem of adult illiteracy.

Examples

"Cette association aide les adultes illettrés."

Natural Translation

This association helps illiterate adults.

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